The dynamism of religion all over the world presupposes that discourse on it generally is a continuous exercise. As religion influences the environment of its operation so also is the influence of the environment on the practice of religion. Nigeria, a multi-religious nation has experienced and is still experiencing the positive as well the negative aspects of religious practices in her socio-political, economic and cultural spheres. There is no doubt that religion is manipulated by some people, which portray it in bad light and makes it vulnerable to criticisms despite the unanimity about its potential to be a force for good in the society. Recent developments in Nigeria indicate that religion has a role in the survival or otherwise of the country. Such include the re-introduction of Sharicah penal code in some states in the northern part of the country, the emergence of Islamic banks, proliferation of private faith-based tertiary institutions, emergence of different factions and sects in religions and the challenge of insurgency using religion as camouflage in the name of the Boko Haram. This book addresses contemporary issues in the use of religion in Nigeria. Its uniqueness lies in the calibre of notable scholars who contributed to it from various ethno-religious and geographical backgrounds. It contains the views of eminent scholars from Islam and Christianity and is jointly edited by experienced professors in the two faiths. The overall aim is to enhance better understanding of religion and to promote peaceful co-existence between and among adherents of the two religions.

This book exposes the overwhelming arrays of challenges that Christians face in the 21st century Nigeria. The purpose of this book is to consider these challenges and suggest means of meeting them. In this book, Christians are charged with living in such a manner as to contribute to the health and strength of their society. The book examines the extent to which the family depends upon the Church and its ministry for guidance and support in creating a healthy and moral atmosphere in the home. This book explains how the theological training of Pastors plays a significant role in society. Together, families and Pastors, leaders from every facet of life, could be joined together in the mission to create a healthy society. The book sees religious violence in Nigeria with emphasis on conflict resolution. The church has a responsibility to lead the nation in presenting peaceful resolutions to all forms of violence, whether in the home, the community, or nationally. Following closely on the issue of religious violence, is that of corruption at all levels, from personal to political. Lastly, the physical health of the individual and community is of vital interest to all. This book considers and examines the role of the Christian in Contemporary Nigerian Society with a view to taking responsibility in meeting the challenges and contributing to the solutions. This book reminds the Christian that he or she is not alone; he or she is but one part in the overall picture of a nation struggling to take its place in the 21st century world.

Religion, History, and Politics in Nigeria is concerned with the problematic nature of religion and politics in Nigerian history. The book provides a lively and straightforward treatment of the relationship among religion, politics, and history in Nigeria, and how it affects public life today. By adopting various cultural, historical, political, and sociological perspectives, the text's contributors provide an excellent introduction to the volatile mix of religion and politics in Nigerian history, as well as a range of strategic choices open to religious adherents. The complexity of the relationship among religion, history, and politics is organized around four themes: indigenous values and the influence of Islam and Christianity, colonialism and religious transformation, the religious landscape of the post-colonial period, and the rise of evangelism and fundamentalism. The volume provides an insightful guide to contemporary history, contemporary religion, and contemporary politics, enabling the reader to reach informed and balanced judgments about the role in religion in Nigerian history and politics. This opens the door for serious examination and debate, and will be excellent for use by the general reader and in political science, history, and religion courses.

Contemporary Perspectives on Religions in Africa and the African Diaspora explores African derived religions in a globalized world. The volume focuses on the continent, on African identity in globalization, and on African religion in cultural change.

An introduction to the politics and society of post-colonial Nigeria, highlighting the key themes of ethnicity, democracy, and development.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous and biggest democracy, celebrates her fiftieth year as an independent nation in October 2010. As the cliché states, ‘As Nigeria goes, so goes Africa’. This book frames the socio-historical and political trajectory of Nigeria while examining the many dimensions of the critical choices that she has made as an independent nation. How does the social composition of interest and power illuminate the actualities and narratives of the Nigerian crisis? How have the choices made by Nigerian leaders structured, and/or have been structured by, the character of the Nigerian state and state-society relations? In what ways is Nigeria’s mono-product, debt-ridden, dependent economy fed by ‘the politics of plunder’? And what are the implications of these questions for the structural relationships of production, reproduction and consumption? This book confronts these questions by making state-centric approaches to understanding African countries speak to relevant social theories that pluralize and complicate our understanding of the specific challenges of a prototypical postcolonial state. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies.

Discover Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, in this thematic encyclopedia that covers everything from geography and economics to etiquette and pop culture. Part of Bloomsbury's Understanding Modern Nations series, this volume takes readers on a tour of contemporary Nigeria, helping them better understand the country and the many cultures, religions, and ethnicities that call it home. Chapters are organized thematically, examining a variety of topics, including geography, history, government, economics, religion, ethnic and social groups, gender, education, language, etiquette, food, literature and the arts, and pop culture. Each chapter begins with an overview essay, followed by a selection of encyclopedic entries that provide a more nuanced look at that facet of modern Nigeria. The main text is supplemented with sidebars that highlight additional high-interest topics. A collection of appendices rounds out the volume, offering short vignettes of daily life in the country, a glossary of key terms, statistical data, and a list of state holidays. Once a pawn of British colonialism, today Nigeria is a sovereign nation and key player on the world stage. Its vast oil resources have made it an international powerhouse and the wealthiest country on the African continent, yet political unrest and corruption, and ethnic and religious violence continue to threaten this prosperity. Nigeria is equally rich culturally, a nation where time-honored traditions mix with contemporary influences. Explore the diversity of modern Nigeria in this concise and accessible volume.

DOES IT MATTER?: Jimi 0. Adesina

This book reads the narrative of the national politics alongside deeper histories of political and social organization, as well as in relation to competing influences on modern identity formation and inter-group relationships, such as ethnic and religious communities, economic partnerships, and immigrant and diasporic cultures